fitness – Page 2 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated February 7, 2026

Do you do some type of physical activity regularly, or wish that you did?

male and female athletes drinking bottled water

You probably know that medical experts recommend physical activity; it not only helps us feel and look better, but it can even prevent certain chronic illnesses and delay death.

“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization (WHO.

“We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, considering factors like age, environment, and cultural background.

By making physical activity accessible, affordable, and enjoyable for all, we can significantly reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases and create a population that is healthier and more productive.”

Ask yourself these questions :

Has your doctor told you to increase physical activity to treat a chronic condition or to prevent one?
Do you need to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, control your blood glucose(sugar) or cholesterol?
Do you want to feel more fit, stronger, and energetic?

Controlling blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol can help prevent and manage heart disease.

If you answered yes to any of these, and you own a smartphone, consider wearing a smartwatch or tracker like Google Fitbit. I’ve worn a Fitbit watch for several years and find its benefits invaluable. (This is an affiliate link.)

A fitness app can

Motivate you to be more active
Monitor your compliance with activity
Measure your progress, and
Manage data that you and your doctor can use to improve your health.

Helpful features in a health/fitness app

Has a user-friendly interface
Easy to initiate
Reliability during the activity
Includes a goal-setting option
Offers real-time feedback
Customizable to user
Expert consultation available
Incorporates behavior change techniques based on science
Syncs with other apps and devices/computers for review and sharing
Supports social networking
Offers periodic summaries

GoogleFitbit

Fitbit’s new AI-powered personal health coach is a fitness trainer, sleep coach and health and wellness advisor that work together to offer personalized recommendations and insights. All eligible Android Premium Fitbit subscribers in the U.S. can try it now in Public Preview, and offer feedback (iOS coming soon).

Fitbit is approaching this work thoughtfully and iteratively, grounded in science and with feedback from the scientific community and users. They continuously validate the coach for safety, helpfulness, accuracy, relevance and personalization, based on data from more than 100,000 hours of human evaluation from generalists and experts in areas like fitness, family medicine, sleep and behavioral science.

people in a gym exercising — photo courtesy Amanda Mills, CDC.gov, Public Health Image Library

Exploring the HEART of Health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

On a trip to Colorado Springs my husband and I visited the United States Olympic Training Center . I hope these photos help you understand why his facility is called the “flagship” training center. Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Team USA train here.

You’re welcome to continue here, or you can read an updated version of this post at this link

Life Lessons from Team USA

As much as I admire the elite athletes who comprise the Olympic team, the Paralympic athletes captivate my imagination.

These are athletes who compete with, not necessarily despite, significant physical impairments; but to call them “disabled” does them an injustice. Many of them play and compete in physically demanding sports without full use of their arms and legs; some don’t even have all of their arms and legs.

As we walked around the complex on a guided tour, I remembered the importance of physical activity for our physical and mental health, and made a note to remind you too. Almost no one will disagree with the recommendation to include and increase physical activity in our daily lives.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans call for moderate-intensive physical activity for 150 minutes or more per week, vigorous-intensity activity for at least 75 minutes per week, or an equivalent combination of the 2, and engaging in muscle strengthening activity at least twice per week.

Medical studies show that exercise can prevent or improve many chronic health conditions and lack of exercise contributes to many diseases.
Physical activity may reduce the risk of cancers of the breast, colon, uterus, prostate and pancreas.
Regular exercise may help prevent diabetes and heart disease.
Exercise can relieve joint and back pain due to arthritis.
Depression is treated with physical activity successfully

As we walked through the USA Shooting area I picked up a flyer titled “Winning Attitudes”. I liked what it said so I am using some of the ideas to illustrate my photos. I hope they will encourage you to develop a “winning attitude” in all areas of your life.

Enjoy this brief tour through the Olympic Complex and if you go to Colorado Springs, be sure and visit; the cost is reasonable and worth the price.

Become excited, confident, and enthusiastic about your goals.

statue of athletes at entrance to facility

Winners have the ability to look inside themselves and find that special dream.

“Olympic Strength” statue- four athletes supporting the world with a figure skater beside them

Winners focus on solutions, not problems.

Winners have positive attitudes in all elements of their lives. The more you think about, talk about, and write about a thing happening, the greater the certainty of that thing happening.